Mounting system

ABSTRACT

A mounting system  18  for mounting a media module  16  to furniture  12, 14  includes a plurality of spacer elements  20,22 , each spacer element  20, 22  being configured to interconnect and space two items of furniture  12, 14  a predetermined distance from each other as governed by dimensions of the spacer elements  20, 22 . A mounting member  40  is carried by one spacer element  22  of the plurality of spacer elements  20, 22 . The mounting member  40  mounts the media module  16  and permits displacement of the media module  16  relative to the items of furniture  12, 14.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from Australian Patent No2015100360 filed on 23 Mar. 2015, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates, generally, to a mounting system and, moreparticularly, to a mounting system for mounting a media module to anarticle of furniture, particularly, but not necessarily exclusively,modular furniture.

BACKGROUND

These days, home entertainment systems are becoming increasingly popularwith users and require ever more sophisticated audio systems. To enablea user to become immersed in the environment generated by the mediabeing employed, such audio systems are often configured to havecomponents which are placed in proximity to the user. However, suchaudio system components often do not aesthetically complementfurnishings in a room and can detract from the ambience of the room.

In addition, there is an increasing tendency for users to be operatingother devices such as tablets, smartphones, etc. while occupying an itemof furniture in a room. These devices periodically require rechargingand it is inconvenient for the user if charging equipment is not closeto hand. However, such charging equipment is also aestheticallyunappealing and can detract from the aesthetics of the room.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, there is provided a mounting system for mounting a mediamodule to furniture, the mounting system including

a plurality of spacer elements, each spacer element being configured tointerconnect and space two items of furniture a predetermined distancefrom each other as governed by dimensions of the spacer elements; and

a mounting member carried by one spacer element of the plurality ofspacer elements, the mounting member mounting the media module andpermitting displacement of the media module relative to the items offurniture.

Each spacer element may comprises a pair of spaced limbs interconnectedby a bridging portion, each limb being receivable in a receivingformation of the item of furniture, each limb being a friction fit inits associated receiving formation. In respect of the one spacerelement, the mounting member may comprise a sleeve arranged rotatablyabout the bridging portion of the one spacer element.

The sleeve may carry a mounting arrangement for mounting the mediamodule to the sleeve of the one spacer element so that the media module,in use, is rotatably displaceable relative to the items of furniture.

At least one further spacer element may include a locating element forlocating the media module relative to the spacer elements, the locatingelement being configured to inhibit skewing of the items of modularfurniture relative to each other. The locating element may be configuredto inhibit skewing by being arranged in an offset position on the atleast one further spacer element. The at least one further spacerelement may be symmetrical about a central plane, extending parallel tothe limbs of the spacer element, bisecting the bridging portion of thespacer element. The locating element may be offset with respect to thatcentral plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the disclosure is now described by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:—

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of modular furniture including anembodiment of a media module;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective, exploded view of the modular furnitureincluding an embodiment of a mounting system for the media module;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the mounting of the media module onthe mounting system; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the mounting system, in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates modularfurniture. In the illustrated embodiment, the modular furniture 10includes two items of modular furniture 12 and 14 which, in theillustrated embodiment, are each in the form of a seat with a mediamodule 16 arranged between the seats 12 and 14.

It will be appreciated that the modular furniture 10 can adopt any othersuitable form, for example, a seat alongside a chaise, the seat beingseparated from the chaise by the media module 16, a sofa separated froma seat or a chaise by the media module 16, or the like. For ease ofexplanation, the disclosure will be described with reference to itsmounting the media module 16 between the two seats 12 and 14.

The media module 16 is mounted to the seats 12 and 14 by an embodimentof a mounting system 18 (FIG. 2). The mounting system 18 comprises apair of spacer elements 20, 22. The spacer element 20 is mountabletowards a front of the seats 12 and 14 with the spacer element 22 beingmountable towards the rear of the seats 12 and 14.

The spacer element 20 is substantially inversely U-shaped having a pairof limbs 24 interconnected by a bridging portion 26. Each seat 12, 14includes a knock-in 28 arranged proximate a front of the seat 12, 14.The knock-in 28 is a lined socket-defining member in which theassociated limb 24 of the spacer element 20 is snugly received. Theknock-in 28 is lined with a sleeve (not shown) of a suitable syntheticplastics material such as, for example, HDPE.

The spacer element 20 is symmetrical about an imaginary central planeextending parallel to the limbs 24 and bisecting the bridging portion26. The spacer element 20 includes a locating formation in the form of apin 30 which projects upwardly from the bridging portion 26 in adirection opposite to that of the limbs 24. The pin 30 is offset withrespect to the central plane.

The spacer element 20 is also symmetrical about an imaginary planearranged on the longitudinal axis of the bridging portion 26 to bisectthe limbs 24. As a result, the spacer element 20 can be mounted betweenthe seats 12 and 14 with the pin 30 on either side of the imaginarycentral plane.

The media module 16 includes a pair of laterally spaced receivingsockets 32 defined in an operatively front region of the media module16, the locating pin 30 being receivable in either one of the sockets 32when the media module is in its closed configuration as shown in FIG. 1of the drawings.

The spacer element 22 is also substantially inversely U-shaped having apair of spaced limbs 34 interconnected by a bridging portion 36. Thespacer element 22 includes a mounting member in the form of a sleeve 38rotatably received over the bridging portion 36 of the spacer element22.

Each seat 12, 14 includes a knock-in 39 arranged proximate a rear of theseat 12, 14 with one of the limbs 34 being snugly received in anassociated knock-in 39. Once again, each knock-in 39 is lined with asleeve (not shown) of a suitable synthetic plastics material such as,for example, HDPE.

The sleeve 38 carries a mounting arrangement 40 in the form of a pair oflaterally spaced, operatively upwardly projecting pins 42. The pins 42are received in receiving formations in the form of sockets (not shown)in an operatively rear region of the media module 16. Although notshown, the sockets at the rear of the media module 16 are the same asthe sockets 32 at the front of the media module 16.

The sleeve 38 is a friction fit on the bridging portion 36 of the spacerelement 22 to facilitate retention of the sleeve 38 at a desired angularposition relative to the bridging portion 36 of the spacer element 22.For this purpose, a lining of a suitable synthetic plastics material(not shown) is interposed between the sleeve 38 and the bridging portion36 of the spacer element 22. This lining is also of a suitable syntheticplastics material such as, for example, HDPE.

The mounting system 18 has been described with reference to the spacerelement 20 being at the front of the seats 12 and 14 and the spacerelement 22 being at the rear of the seats 12 and 14. However, it will beappreciated that, in some applications, the spacer elements 20 and 22could be swapped around so that the spacer element 20 is at the rear ofthe seats 12 and 14 with the spacer element 22 being at the front of theseats 12 and 14. In this case, the pins 42 of the spacer element 22 arereceived in the sockets 32 at the front of the media module. This latterarrangement is desirable when, for example, the seats 12 and 14 areagainst a wall which would impede rotation of the media module 16 to theposition shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The spacing between the limbs 24 of the spacer element 20 and the limbs34 of the spacer element 22 govern the spacing between the seats 12 and14. The spacer elements 20 and 22 are dimensioned so that the mediamodule 16 is a tight fit between the seats 12 and 14. This, togetherwith the offset locating pin 30 of the spacer element 20, serves toinhibit skewing of the seats 12 and 14 relative to each other.

In use, the seats 12 and 14 are positioned alongside, but spaced from,each other. The spacer elements 20 and 22 are mounted in positionbetween the seats 12 and 14 by inserting the limbs 24 of the spacerelement 20 into the knock-ins 28 and inserting the limbs 34 of thespacer element 22 into the knock-ins 39. This configuration of spacerelements 20 and 22 is selected when it is desired to have the mediamodule rotate upwardly towards the rear of the seats 12 and 14 as shownin FIG. 4 of the drawings. However, as indicated above, the positions ofthe spacer elements 20 and 22 can be swapped around when it is desiredto have the media module 16 rotate upwardly towards a front of the seats12 and 14 instead.

Once the spacer elements 20 and 22 have been positioned between theseats 12 and 14, the media module 16 is lowered on to the spacerelements 20, 22, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings so that the locatingpins 42 of the spacer element 22 are received in the sockets at the rearof the media module 16.

When the media module 16 is in its closed position, as shown in FIG. 1of the drawings, it covers a space 44 between the seats 12 and 14. Thisspace 44 is used for media equipment such as, for example, a sub-woofer(not shown) positioned between the seats 12 and 14. In addition, a powerboard (also not shown) is arranged in the space 44 with power cablesand/or an electrical lead of a battery charger extending through themedia module 16 into a storage receptacle of the media module 16 closedoff by a lid 46 of the media module. The power cables can be used topower equipment or devices stored or placed in the storage receptacle ofthe media module 16 and the battery charger is used to charge a batteryof such equipment or devices.

Hence, it is an advantage of the disclosure that a mounting system 18 isprovided which facilitates mounting of a media module between items offurniture in an aesthetically pleasing manner. In addition, the mountingsystem 18 improves the versatility of the modular furniture 10 in thatit renders the modular furniture 10 suitable for use with media itemssuch as audio equipment and devices requiring power and/or charging.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the above-describedembodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of thepresent disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

1. A mounting system for mounting a media module to furniture, themounting system including a plurality of spacer elements, each spacerelement being configured to interconnect and space two items offurniture a predetermined distance from each other as governed bydimensions of the spacer elements; and a mounting member carried by onespacer element of the plurality of spacer elements, the mounting membermounting the media module and permitting displacement of the mediamodule relative to the items of furniture.
 2. The mounting system ofclaim 1 in which each spacer element comprises a pair of spaced limbsinterconnected by a bridging portion, each limb being receivable in areceiving formation of the item of furniture.
 3. The mounting system ofclaim 2 in which, in respect of the one spacer element, the mountingmember comprises a sleeve arranged rotatably about the bridging portionof the one spacer element.
 4. The mounting system of claim 3 in whichthe sleeve carries a mounting arrangement for mounting the media moduleto the sleeve of the one spacer element so that the media module, inuse, is rotatably displaceable relative to the items of furniture. 5.The mounting system of claim 1 in which at least one further spacerelement includes a locating element for locating the media modulerelative to the spacer elements, the locating element being configuredto inhibit skewing of the items of modular furniture relative to eachother.